University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan
The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release. The goal is to continue aligning campus facilities with the university’s mission areas and to provide as positive an experience for students as possible.
OU is partnering with architecture, planning, and design firm Ayers Saint Gross on the initiative. The project’s scope encompasses the entire university campus in Norman, including North Campus, the University Research Campus, and Max Westheimer Airport. Future phases could potentially include OU-Tulsa and the OU Health Campus in Oklahoma City.
“One of the most important responsibilities we have as regents is to steward the University of Oklahoma for future generations,” said Bob Ross, OU Board of Regents Vice Chair. “As we undertake what will be the first comprehensive campus master planning effort in OU’s history, we have an opportunity to thoughtfully lay the groundwork for the university’s long-term growth and success. Decisions about buildings, land use and infrastructure shape a university for decades, and this effort will help ensure that future university leaders can continue building on a strong and intentional foundation.”
During the next year and half, the university will assess how campus facilities, infrastructure, mobility systems, and open spaces support the university’s ultimate goals like academics, research, and campus life. Specifically, focus areas will include space utilization, facility conditions, and growth strategy; the campus experience and placemaking; transportation, mobility, energy, and utilities planning; branded environments and design guidelines; and the integration of existing plans and studies.
“Our campus reflects generations of Sooner history and remains one of the state’s greatest assets,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “This planning effort is not about a single building or isolated project, but about ensuring that as OU continues to grow, we do so with purpose—honoring what makes our university special while planning strategically for what comes next.”
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].